Celtic eased three points clear of Aberdeen at the top of the Scottish Premiership after eventually overcoming Hamilton in a 4-0 win at a rain-soaked Parkhead.

Accies captain Michael McGovern, a former Celt, held the home side at bay in the first-half but he was powerless as the champions stepped up the pace after the break.

The returning Kris Commons opened the scoring in the 56th minute and after goals from midfielder Stefan Johansen and striker John Guidetti, the former Nottingham Forest midfielder helped himself to a second which gave the scoreline an appropriate reflection of a one-sided match.

The Hoops have a game in hand over the Dons, whom they host next Sunday.

In the eighth minute Hoops midfielder Nir Bitton got his head to an inswinging Commons free-kick, forcing a fine point-blank parry from McGovern.

Four minutes later McGovern made another top save, this time from Forrest who volleyed in a deep cross from Ambrose.

As the home side dominated, Devlin’s block inside the six-yard box denied Guidetti, although Celtic skipper Scott Brown had to come to the rescue when a slack back-heel by left-back Emilio Izaguirre almost allowed Hasselbaink a clear run in on goal.

McGovern made another save from a Virgil van Dijk header before the break.

Celtic got the breakthrough 11 minutes after the interval.

Van Dijk took it upon himself to surge forward through the middle before picking out Commons who steadied himself before driving low past McGovern.

Moments later, Armstrong replaced Forrest just before the hour mark as the home side, free from the stress of finding an opener, went forward with confidence.

Johansen drove a shot off the base of the post after being set up by Bitton, before grabbing Celtic’s second.

The Norwegian pounced on the loose ball to fire in after McGovern had parried a ferocious effort from van Dijk.

The over-worked McGovern made a double save from van Dijk and then Matthews, before Guidetti bulleted in an Izaguirre cross in the 77th minute with his head with Commons then grabbing his second from yards out in 81 minutes to confirm Celtic’s superiority.